Distribution Outlets Research Articles

Problems Faced by Indian Poultry Farm Exporters and Role of Exim Bank

Poultry has a crucial place in India as the eggs and chicken meat are important and rich sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Poultry provides rich organic manure and is an important source of income and employment to millions of farmers and other persons engaged in allied activities in the poultry industry. Exim Bank ( Export-Import Bank of India) is an Indian government-owned financial institution for the public sector created by and Act of the Parliament of India: the Export-Import Bank of India Act 1981. Exim Bank is managed by a Board of Directors, which has representatives from the Government, Reserve Bank of India, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC), a financial institution, public sector banks, and the business community. India is the world's fifth largest egg producing country. It also produces 530 million broilers per year. Poultry provides employment to about 1.5 million people. The annual per capita consumption in India is only 33 eggs and 630 grams of poultry meat. This is much lower as compared to the world average of 124 eggs and 5.9 kg meat. Indian companies acquire manufacturing units and distribution outlets in world markets. Remarkable feature of India's exports was that they were driven by domestic companies. Only 10 per cent of India's exports were by multinational corporations, while in the case of China, MNCs accounted for 52 per cent of exports.The National Committee on Human Nutrition in India has recommended per capita of 180 eggs (about one egg every two days) and 10.8 kg meat. To meet this target, it was estimated that 2010, the requirement will be 180 billion eggs and 9.1 billion kg poultry meat while the estimated production may only be around 46.2 billion eggs and 3.04 billion kg poultry meat. This shows that there is a tremendous scope for growth with rapid urbanization, and increasing demand from the present 250 million economically strong, consumer market base (which is likely to go up to 350 million by year 2010), there is bright future for this industry in India. It is estimated that, at present, Indian Poultry Industry contribution to the GDP is about ` 80 billion which is likely to reach ` 300 billion by the Year 2005.

Problems Faced by Indian Poultry Farm Exporters and Role of Exim Bank

Poultry has a crucial place in India as the eggs and chicken meat are important and rich sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Poultry provides rich organic manure and is an important source of income and employment to millions of farmers and other persons engaged in allied activities in the poultry industry. Exim Bank ( Export-Import Bank of India) is an Indian government-owned financial institution for the public sector created by and Act of the Parliament of India: the Export-Import Bank of India Act 1981. Exim Bank is managed by a Board of Directors, which has representatives from the Government, Reserve Bank of India, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC), a financial institution, public sector banks, and the business community. India is the world's fifth largest egg producing country. It also produces 530 million broilers per year. Poultry provides employment to about 1.5 million people. The annual per capita consumption in India is only 33 eggs and 630 grams of poultry meat. This is much lower as compared to the world average of 124 eggs and 5.9 kg meat. Indian companies acquire manufacturing units and distribution outlets in world markets. Remarkable feature of India's exports was that they were driven by domestic companies. Only 10 per cent of India's exports were by multinational corporations, while in the case of China, MNCs accounted for 52 per cent of exports.The National Committee on Human Nutrition in India has recommended per capita of 180 eggs (about one egg every two days) and 10.8 kg meat. To meet this target, it was estimated that 2010, the requirement will be 180 billion eggs and 9.1 billion kg poultry meat while the estimated production may only be around 46.2 billion eggs and 3.04 billion kg poultry meat. This shows that there is a tremendous scope for growth with rapid urbanization, and increasing demand from the present 250 million economically strong, consumer market base (which is likely to go up to 350 million by year 2010), there is bright future for this industry in India. It is estimated that, at present, Indian Poultry Industry contribution to the GDP is about ` 80 billion which is likely to reach ` 300 billion by the Year 2005.

Saving energy by using underfloor-air-distribution (UFAD) system in commercial buildings

The number of attempts by researchers to reduce building energy consumption has increased, ever since global warming became a serious issue. In this trend, a relatively new approach of air distribution, underfloor-air-distribution system (UFAD), has been widely used in new commercial buildings. This technique is simply accomplished by supplying air through a raised floor using different types of distribution configurations and outlets. In UFAD, the air is directly supplied to the occupants’ area (occupied zone) causing occupants plumes and zone heat load stratify to the upper layer of the zone (unoccupied zone), which are later extracted from return points at high level. This flow pattern gives UFAD the advantage of using less energy than a conventional air-distribution system, ceiling-based air distribution (CBAD) due to lower pressure drop and lower air flow rate. This paper investigates the effectiveness of UFAD systems in commercial buildings for various types of application and at different air supply temperatures in a hot climate (The State of Kuwait). The findings show that UFAD has a significant saving of energy compared to CBAD (∼30%); in particular with high ceiling building types, as well as providing satisfactory comfort conditions for the occupants. Ultimately, more investigations should be done on conventional building heights (offices) to optimize the utilization of thermal stratification at design and operation stages.

WATER TECHNOLOGY AT GORTYN IN THE 4TH–7TH C. A.D.: TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

The technology used to secure supplies of urban drinking water can reveal much about the management of the natural landscape. Gortyn in Crete provides an exceptional case study, for the 4th–7th centuries A.D., due to the almost complete preservation of the city’s water system; this can be deduced from its spring-fed capture points, through transportation and storage structures, right up to its distribution outlets to the citizens. These fortunate circumstances allow us to analyse an evolving distribution system, and to study related changes in water use by the inhabitants of this Mediterranean provincial capital.

Market segmentation using geographic information systems (GIS)

PurposeTo show how the analytical and visualization capabilities of geographic information systems (GIS) can enhance the communication, understanding and utility of data and information to be used in marketing planning, as compared with their conventional presentation as text and tables.Design/methodology/approachA digital map of the study area was generated and a set of market zones. A multiple regression model for predicting sale of the product under study was then developed, taking into account sales figures from specific distribution outlets and the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of the population served by the distribution outlets in the identified market zones. Optimum routes and times between the manufacturing plant and the distribution outlets were derived.FindingsCombining geospatial methods with conventional marketing techniques enables users to visualize the spatial distribution of data in maps, complemented by various statistical graphs and diagrams. This form of presentation yields better insights into the nature of the distribution process and better understanding of the diverse markets served.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a single case study of the solution to a logistical question in one district of one city in an African country. The findings must therefore be applied to other contexts with due caution.Practical implicationsThe study nevertheless vividly demonstrates the important role that GIS can play in sales and marketing planning.Originality/valueAn application of planning technology normally encountered in applications beyond the marketing discipline, readily transferable with care to more familiar situations and settings.

Microbial contaminants on some fish contact surfaces in Sokoto, Nigeria

Sokoto central market and two privately owned fish cold room and distribution outlets were visited between August and September, 2005 to collect surface swabs. The sampled surfaces included a concrete table and two basins from the market, weighing pans, floor and walls of cold rooms from the two distribution outlets. Five swabs each were taken from the contact surfaces. Out of 45 samples obtained from concrete table surface, basins, weighing pans, walls and floors of cold rooms, the table surface and the two basins from the market had the highest bacteria and fungi isolates of 43.9% and 48.6% respectively. The predominant bacterial and fungal isolates were Staphylococcus species (25.0%) and Rhizopus stolonifer (47.5%). In view of the importance of some of the microbial isolates obtained in this study as primary causes of food-borne illnesses, there is the need to improve on personal and environmental hygiene to reduce contamination of food contact surfaces that may serve as direct agents of transmission of diseases to susceptible population. Keywords: Fish; contact surfaces; bacteria; fungi; Nigeria Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 168-171

The Economic Impact of Supermarket Growth in Vietnamese Food Supply Chains

Supermarkets and other modern distribution outlets are sprouting in the cities of Vietnam to market goods to an emerging middle class, resulting in significant changes in the structure and operation of food supply chains.

HNI Corp

AbstractFurniture and Fixtures (MIC: 11.10 SIC: 2522 NAIC: 337214)HNI is a provider of office furniture and hearth products. Co.'s office furniture product offering is sold to dealers, wholesalers, retail superstores, end‐user customers, and federal, state, and local governments. Dealer, wholesaler, and retail superstores are the major channels based on sales. Co.'s hearth products include wood‐ and gas‐burning factory‐built fireplaces, pellet and electric hearth appliances, fireplace inserts, stoves, gas logs, and accessories. These products are sold through a national system of dealers, wholesalers, large regional contractors, as well as Corporation‐owned distribution and retail outlets.

DAM and automated digital video workflows

With the digitization of the broadcast space and the growing number of digital distribution outlets and viewing options available to today's consumers, the need to effectively manage video assets has never been higher. Digital asset management has become a must-have solution for entities wanting to create greater efficiencies in production, post-production, management, and delivery that ultimately improve the bottom-line. When integrated within an automated file-based video workflow, asset management provides incredible cost savings and efficiencies. Integrating workflow automation into content delivery and facility ingest is analyzed. New graphics workflow enablers that provide the ability to cost-effectively generate customized video content for the growing number of distribution outlets are also examined.

HNI Corp

Mergent's Dividend AchieversVolume 3, Issue 4 p. 142-142 U.S. Company Reports HNI Corp† First published: 10 October 2006 https://doi.org/10.1002/div.4785 † Contact: : Stan A. Askren — Chmn., C.E.O. Address: : 414 East Third Street, P.O. Box 1109, Muscatine, IA 52761-0071 Web Site: : www.honi.com AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Furniture and Fixtures (MIC: 11.10 SIC: 2522 NAIC: 337214) HNI is a provider of office furniture and hearth products. Respectively, Co.'s office furniture includes a range of storage, seating, office systems, and desk and related products. These are sold to dealers, wholesalers, warehouse clubs, retail superstores, end-user customers, and federal and state governments. Meanwhile, Co.'s hearth products include wood and gas-burning factory-built fireplaces, pellet and electric hearth appliances, fireplace inserts, stoves, gas logs and accessories. These products are sold through a national system of dealers, wholesalers, large regional contractors, as well as the Company-owned distribution and retail outlets. Volume3, Issue4Autumn (Fall) 2006Pages 142-142 RelatedInformation

Traditional vs. Modern Food Systems? Insights from Vegetable Supply Chains to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

This article describes the development of vegetable marketing in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), where modern distribution outlets are competing fiercely with traditional traders for wholesale and retail customers. Data from interviews with supply chain stakeholders and a survey of vegetable wholesalers have been used to compare the performance of modern and traditional chains, and the findings reveal the chains as segmented in their product focus, the modern sector focusing exclusively on quality. Modern marketing channels are generally more efficient than traditional ones but still account for only around 2% of vegetable distribution. The article argues that policy-makers should not promote the ‘modernisation’ of food systems at the expense of traditional channels which meet important consumer needs.

Spatial analysis of alcohol-related motor vehicle crash injuries in southeastern Michigan

Temporal, behavioral and social risk factors that affect injuries resulting from alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes have been characterized in previous research. Much less is known about spatial patterns and environmental associations of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes. The aim of this study was to evaluate geographic patterns of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and to determine if locations of alcohol outlets are associated with those crashes. In addition, we sought to demonstrate the value of integrating spatial and traditional statistical techniques in the analysis of this preventable public health risk. The study design was a cross-sectional analysis of individual-level blood alcohol content, traffic report information, census block group data, and alcohol distribution outlets. Besag and Newell’s spatial analysis and traditional logistic regression both indicated that areas of low population density had more alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes than expected ( P < 0.05). There was no significant association between alcohol outlets and alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes using distance analyses, logistic regression, and Chi-square. Differences in environmental or behavioral factors characteristic of areas of low population density may be responsible for the higher proportion of alcohol-related crashes occurring in these areas.

Penetrating the Japanese market: the challenge of non‐tariff barriers

Analyses some of the hidden barriers in exporting to Japan. It looks at Japanese industrial organisation and the role of the large corporations in controlling import and distribution outlets. The Japanese wholesale and distribution system is much larger than would be the case in Europe or North America. There are also differences in patterns of consumer behaviour in Japan compared to Europe. Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry also plays a more active role in the business environment. Also examines the problems involved with negotiating with the Japanese. It looks at a number of the obvious sources of confusion and misunderstanding between Japanese and Westerners during the negotiation process.

The Role of Designing Through Making Across Market Levels in the UK Fashion Industry

This paper examines the role of designing through making in the fashion design process. It draws upon empirical data collected through a series of case studies conducted with womenswear design and manufacturing companies targeting differing segments of the UK clothing and fashion market (Sinha, 2000). An examination was made of the areas of the design process that the designer was immediately involved with, and, therefore, an examination of the designer's role in the fashion design process. Models of fashion design processes were constructed to compare how activities and design decisions differed. Five generic phases were elucidated, differences in activities, decision-making and garment-styling were noted to arise from how information was taken on about the market, analysed and used, size of companies, types of consumers targeted, number of retail distribution outlets (potential market size) and finance available to the company. This paper seeks to demonstrate that the role of designing through making is undeniably vital throughout all market levels in the fashion industry and questions the current role of the fashion designer. The paper concludes with recommendations for further areas of study.

Representativeness and Authenticity in African Craft Exports

African countries face opportunities for the export of cultural products. Demand for these products has increased in recent years and has found distribution outlets via American and European mass retailers. The potential for African countries to exploit demand for locally produced crafts and cultural products depends critically on their ability to anticipate and respond to the market. This paper compares and contrasts craft production in Kenya and in Ghana in order to analyze the impact of culture on the countries' ability to exploit export opportunities. Key distinctions are raised in the areas of internally focused versus externally focused production and between products that are subject to local control in their production versus those that are not. Issues of authenticity versus representativeness are also raised relative to demand for craft products.

A Nonparametric Approach to Identifying Latent Relationships in Hierarchical Models

This paper provides a method for nonparametrically modeling the relationship between consumer preference for product features, such as reliability or durability, and covariates that describe consumers and how they use the product. This relationship is of interest to firms designing and delivering products to a market because the extent to which consumers are sensitive to particular features determines the potential profitability of product offerings, and affects decisions relating to appropriate distribution outlets and advertising strategies. The successful identification of these relationships also aids in efficiently targeting marketing activities to specific segments of the consumer population. The relationship between consumer preference for product features and observable covariates is important but is typically unknown. In addition, these relationships are often deeply embedded in a model hierarchy and are not observed directly. For example, in models of household choice, the observed outcomes are multinomial with probabilities driven by latent utilities or values that consumers place on the choice alternatives. These utilities are in turn a function of characteristics, such as price and product features, which are differentially valued. Of primary interest is the relationship between consumer sensitivity to product characteristics and readily observed covariates such as household demographics or aspects of product usage. Because the relationships of interest are not directly observed, it is difficult to draw inferences about them without formal statistical models. This paper presents a three-level hierarchical Bayes model for modeling binary consumer preferences as a function of observable covariates. The hierarchical model nonparametrically estimates the relationships between consumer preferences for product features and the covariates without assuming a specific functional form. A nonparametric model is particularly useful in the exploratory analysis of consumer data in which the primary purpose of the analysis is to generate further questions rather than provide specific answers to well-posed questions. This type of analysis is frequently encountered in marketing where a series of studies are commissioned to better understand the nature of demand. The first level of the hierarchy in the Bayesian model relates the binary consumer choice to the sensitivities of the consumer to product attributes such as brand name, price, reliability, and durability. The second level of the hierarchy models the heterogeneity across consumers using functions that relate attribute sensitivities to observable covariates. This level of the hierarchy also allows each respondent to have unique demand coefficients by introducing random effect components. The third level of the hierarchy specifies a smoothness prior for each of the unknown functions used in the second level. The approach is flexible and works well both when the unknown function can be closely approximated by a linear function and when it cannot be. A Bayesian model selection technique is used to determine which functions can be modeled using a linear function and which ones should be modeled nonparametrically to provide the necessary flexibility to estimate the function accurately. The proposed methodology is illustrated using data from a survey of consumer preferences for features of marine outboard engines that was collected as part of a consulting project. Our analysis focuses on measuring consumer preferences for engine features and their relationships to two variables related to boat length and engine size. Consumer preferences for engine features were obtained through a national survey conducted over the telephone. Preferences were elicited by means of a pairwise evaluation in which respondents chose between two engines that were identical in every respect except for two engine features. The methodology can be modified to allow for more complex comparisons such as conjoint data collected in full profiles. The application of a Bayesian model selection procedure indicates that 4 of the 28 covariate relationships in the model are nonlinear, while the other 24 are linear. The preferences associated with these four functions are involved in 56% of the pairwise comparisons in the study. Therefore, in practice, if the nonlinear functions are not properly estimated there is the potential to draw misleading inferences regarding 56% of the pairwise choices. Firms can use the estimates of the functions relating preferences to covariates in a number of ways. First, they can use the covariates to determine the total number of consumers who have high demand for a particular product feature, and then they can target communication efforts to those individuals. Alternatively, the empirical results can be used as a basis of subsequent analysis to obtain a more complete characterization of a market segment.

Capacitance Microbiology as a Means of Determining the Quantity of Spoilage Bacteria on Fish Fillets

An experiment was conducted to determine if a method for enumeration of Pseudomonas fluorescens in less than 11 h could be used to predict potential spoilage of fresh fish of four species. In each of three separate replications (Rep), five boneless fillets from each species of fish, including rainbow trout (RT), Atlantic salmon (AS), red grouper (RG), and tilapia (T) were obtained fresh from a retail outlet. For each species, six 25-g samples of fish flesh were asceptically removed from each fillet, placed into a polyethylene bag, and stored at 3°C for 0,1, 2, 3,4, or 5 days. After storage, samples were analyzed for psychrotrophic plate count (PPC), Pseudomonas fluorescens plate counts (PFPC), and P. fluorescens capacitance detection times (PDT) and subjectively evaluated for odor (ODOR). PPC gradually increased on all fish species as storage time increased. In most cases, PFPC decreased slightly and then progressively increased as storage time increased. In Reps 1 and 2, PDT decreased gradually (indicating an increase in bacteria); however, in Rep 3, PDT were erratic and difficult to interpret. Odor increased gradually throughout the storage period for all fish species. Linear correlations (R2 > 0.80) were observed between PPC and day of storage (DAY) for all fish species and Reps except for RT and RG in Rep 3. PFPC correlated (R2 > 0.70) to DAY for all fish except RT in Rep 3 and RG in Rep 2. PDT was negatively correlated to DAY for RT and T in Rep 1 and for all fish in Rep 2. Odor scores were highly correlated (R2 ≥ 0.84) to DAY for all fish tested. PPC and PDT were negatively correlated for RT in Reps 1 and 2, AS in Rep 2, and T in Reps 1 and 2. Because results can be obtained in < 12 h, the capacitance procedure with further refinement may provide an excellent alternative to conducting PPC as a means of predicting potential spoilage of fish such that the fillets of inferior quality (i.e., those that will spoil rapidly) may be sent to distribution outlets that are known to move fish products quickly and are able to sell the fish before it spoils.

Brand protection: A means of protecting international branded fashion apparel

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of the relationship between brand management and channel management in the market for international branded apparel, in particular the creation of manufacturer dominated retail outlets. It draws attention to the need for manufacturers to examine carefully their distribution strategies as a means of protecting the investment that has taken place in order to create these internationally recognised brand names, eg Liz Clairborne, Berkertex, Austin Reed, Levi, Jaeger and Alexon. In developing their own distribution outlets, significant benefits can be gained that give greater protection to the brand, and prevent the brand dilution that takes place when merchandise is sold through secondary outlets, eg market stalls and small independents.

Generalized marketplace influencers’ (market mavens’) attitudes toward direct mail as a source of information

Feick and Price (1) have identified a new type of interpersonal influencer, the “market maven,” whose influence derives not from experience or expertise in any particular product category, but rather from experience and expertise concerning the marketplace in general. According to Feick and Price, mavens can be thought of as consumers whose knowledge transcends many different product categories, types of distribution outlets, local marketplace developments, and so on, and who actively share this information with others. The purpose of this study was to examine how market mavens’ attitudes toward direct mail (and, implicitly, other forms of direct marketing) differ from those of other consumers. Using results from a sample of nearly 300 adult women, we concluded that market mavens have more favorable attitudes toward direct mail as a source of information than do nonmavens.

Flexible Versus Dedicated Service Facilities: Margins, Capacity &amp; Mix Considerations for Design of Gas Stations

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTIn service facilities, demand, capacity utilization and distribution are closely related; they have an impact on the decision whether to adopt a flexible distribution system that offers multiple services from each outlet or a dedicated distribution that results in each outlet offering only one type of service. The objective of our model is to identify the type of distribution outlets that would minimize customer “balk” and maximize contribution. Our model results indicate that in many cases the prevalent practice of dedicated distribution systems may be suboptimal unless capacity utilization is very low or wide differences in contribution margins are obtained for the different types of services.